Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-12-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
lFrcn Our Regular Correspondenil
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2 1SS-

! WAsHINGToN, Dec. 2, 1887.
! On next Monday, the F'iftieth con-
gress will assemble at the Capitol.
according to time honored custom.
and organize fUi the long session. The
first day will be devoted to such pre-
liminaries as administering the oat h
OF office to members. and the drawing
OF seats. Tie latter process is decid-
edly amusing to witness.
The members retire to the rear OF
the hall and stand impatiently like so
many school boys. The clerk of the
house holds a list of the members
names arranged alphabetically with a
number opposite. \ blind-fo,ied page
stands beside him with box contain
ing as many as there are members of
congress-at present. 3.!o--each mar
bic bearing IL number. The page keS
a marble out Of the box and passes 1t
TO a second clerk ut his right hand.
who calls out the number upon il.
tirr rr7,rr1r 1i
the representative opposite that NUM-
Der on the list, ana the latter comes
forward and selects his seat The
seats near Oand in front of the chair.
are the first chosen, while those men,
bers VINO are 50 unlucty as to Ice late
IN the lottery, ar, compelled to take
seats IN the rear and pear the side, Gf
the hall, where they lind it uiili,.t,lt To
catch the speal l;er' : eye.
There X iii,t.l np.y mn Eap, ~ 60, a..
new session: many aev and mex
perienced members who will, for the
iirst time, engage in the discussion If
business OF great national inportan e.
Speaker Carlisle remarked thlt il WI
take some time to becone aegualnt, a
With the abilities of tic new inen and
know where to place them ON thccon-
nittees. 1t is therefore probable that
The first month will be CONSUMED IN
pertecting the organization and getting
INTO wOrking orier After hcho.iday
recess. congress may be eXDecte to
settle down to work and endeaNor TO
make a record for the presidential
contest.
1t is difficult! to prophecy ~ to what
congress viii do this session but prom
insnt nnembers. who have already ar
rived from the Sout IL. le West the Mid
die states the Pacific slope. as well as
delegates from the terrIl orie,. express
their opinions freely, and there seems
to be- unity among them on one point
namely, that something u.ust lie done
with the surplus IN the treasury.
Speaker Carlisle states the demo !
cratic position with conci>eness. and
his Views are e.peclasiy Important,
inasnuch as great responsibility will
be placed upon his shoulder, in organ !
izing the house. lie believes in an mn !
mediate reduction OF the surplus !
revenues, and reducing thetaxes which /
produch these revenues, at least. /
seventy millions of dollar, ANNUALLY. I
lie considers the necessity of a sub .
stantial rcdllct ION OF ;itxation 80 grsa-.
ana soapparent, that he say, he i.
20 belize, that mere indlvid- I
ual prefc 'encc' or special interests viii T
be allowed to defeat it.
1t has been arranged thai the great
Ihrlstian conference which H. TO be /
held in this city next week -hall ap-
point IA committee To lay before con
gresS the subject Of sunday woik. I
The petition strikes at every form Qi .
labor INDUCED in on that dav. II
asks congress to enact laws. first 20
dispense with corrying mails ei.d keep
ing pos; offices open on that day. Ia
states TINT the telegraph is NOW us.sl /
to transmit all important news. AMI |
therefore there il no oab-o,ut.nocr~siiv I
iOr running mails on the lir., day of
he week Consequent Is the running
Of n,atis cls that day i. in yioiat 1r Oh /